Low Carbon Bio + Synthetic Fuels

Boosting biomethane and producing green hydrogen from liquid waste

THE PROBLEM

Metro Vancouver manages wastewater for the 2.8 million residents of the region. Wastewater treatment involves the anaerobic digestion of solids, which produces biomethane that can be cleaned up for internal use or sale as renewable natural gas. The production of biomethane is limited by the slow growth and sensitivity of methane-producing microbes. More renewable natural gas could be produced by using an innovative technology that enhances microbial activity.

THE SOLUTION

Metro Vancouver is piloting a technology that enhances microbial activity in anaerobic digestion of wastewater to create more renewable natural gas. The Syntrophic Enrichment of Enhanced Digestion (SEED) Reactor uses electro-conductive materials that create optimum growing conditions for methane-producing microbes to increase biomethane production. Injecting green hydrogen generated from wastewater byproducts into the SEED Reactor activates other microbes that convert carbon dioxide into biomethane.

The renewable natural gas produced from a single digester with this technology would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes per year. After validation, the technology could be adopted by up to 180 anaerobic digestion facilities in Canada and 1600 in the US.

This project will take place at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond, BC

PROJECT STATUS
Cancelled
PROJECT CATEGORY
Low Carbon Bio + Synthetic Fuels
FUNDING RECIPIENT
Metro Vancouver
CICE FUNDING AMOUNT
$800,000
PROJECT VALUE
$4,622,000